Knitting-machine.



No. 764,434. PATBNTBD JULY 5, 1904.

. S.A.D0DGE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICIATION FILED JUNE 19, 1902.

N0 MGDEL. 2 SHBBTS-BEEET 1.

10.764,434. PATBNTED JULY 5, 1904.

s. A. DODGE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 1902A N0 MODEL. v 2 BHBETB-SHEBT 2.

W u I @fr f 1j; P

WTNESSES: /NVENTOH ,yamae//od P ATTORNEYS i active position.

UNITED STATES Fatented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL ARTI-[UR DODGE, OF MILLBURY, MASSAClflUSETlS, ASSIGNOR TO VVILLIAM M. KEEPEBS, '0F NEl/VARK, NEl/V JERSEY.

KNITTINGNIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 764,434, dated July 5, 1904.

Application filed Tune 19, 1902.' Serial No, 112,325. (No model.)

To all 'mh/W1l it ntrty/ concern:

Beit known that I, SAMUEL ARTHUR Dones, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Millbury, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Knitting-Machine, of which the followingis afull, clear,'and exact description.

The invention relates to circular-knitting machines; and its object is to provide a new and improved attachment arranged to automatically close all the needles for a desired number of courses to make an ordinary plain stitch and to then close alternate needles for a desired number of courses to form tuckstitches, and thus produce a tubular fabric having transverse alternating bands of plain and tuck stitches which give the fabric an i exceedingly fine and durable appearance and render the fabric incapable of shrinking unduly when made of pure wool or worsted.

The invention consists of novel features andl sectional side elevation of the saine. Fig. 3

is a like view of part of the same with thev needle-closing disks in different positions.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional front view of the improvement on the line 4 4 in Fig. l.

vFig. 5 is a plan View of the needle-closing disks and their support and with the tuckstitch disk for closing alternate needles in an Fig. 6 is a like view of the same with the plain-stitch disk for closing all the needles in an active position. Fig. 7 is an enlarged rear view of the improvement with the cam in an active position, and Fig. 8 is a like view of the same with parts in a normal resting position.

The knitting-maeliine attachment consists,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged essentially, of a plain-stitch disk A and a tuckstitch disk B, the disks being arranged to be moved alternately into and out of active en` gagement relatively to the needles C, carried by the revoluble needle-cylinder l), driven in the usual manner by a suitable gearing E.

VVhenthe disk A is in an active position, as

mechanism and cam are arranged to cause the l formation of plain stitches during any desired number of courses and likewise to cause the formation of tuck-stitches during a'desired number of courses. As shown in the drawings, the plain-stitch disk A is in an active position during six courses or six revolutions of the needle-cylinder l), and the tuck-stitch disk B is in active position during twelve courses or twelve revolutions of theneedle-cylinder; but Ido not limit myself to this particular arrangement, as the number of courses during which a disk is in active position can be varied ad lab/tima y The tuck-stitch disk B has its peripheral edge serrated or toothed, as plainly indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, so that successive teeth cngage alternate needles (l when the disk is in an active position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The disk B is mounted to turn loosely and to slide up and down on a shaft B, secured. at its lower end in a carrier (Jr, the bottom of the disk B when in an active position resting on a collar B2, secured or formed on said shaft B', as indicated in'Fig. 2. When the disk B is in an inactive position, it is lifted oil' the collar B2 and is carried by the disk A, as is plainly indicated in Fig. 3. The disk A has its hub A. formed with a large bore, through which extends loosely the shaft BQ and said hub A is mounted to turn in a bearing H,

mounted to slide toward or from the needles on an inclined guideway G, held on the carrier G, as is plainly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Now when the bearing H is in a lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 2, then the disk A is in an inactive positiontha't is, away from the needles-while the disk B, resting on the collar B2, is in an active positionthat is, ready to close alternate needles when the machine is in operation. rhen the bearing H is mounted to slide upward and inward on its guideway G, then the disk A is lifted and moved toward the needles, and at the same time the top of the disk A engages the under side of the disk B, thus lifting the latter and moving the toothed edge E out of engagement with the needles at the time the plain peripheral edge of the disk A moves into engagement with the needles and closes the same when the machine is in operation. The carrier G is spring-supported to hold the disk A or B in proper contact with the needles for closing the same, as above described, and for this purpose the carrier G is provided with an outwardly-extending rod G2, fitted to slide in a cylinder G3, having a pin G", adjustably secured by a set-screw G5 in a standard GG, attached to a bracket G7, secured to the knitting-machine frame in any suitable manner. A spring Grs presses on a collar G9 within the cylinder G3 to hold the disks A and B in proper relation relatively to the needles. In order to impart the desired sliding motion to the bearing H, I provide the same with a horizontally-disposed pin H, engaged by the beveled end I of a vertically-disposed pin I,

mounted to slide in the carrier G and carrying at its lower end a sleeve I2, held adjustably on the pin by a set-screw I3. A spring I4 in the carrier G presses on the top edge of the sleeve I2, so as to engage the lowerv end thereof with the top face of a head J of a pin J, mounted to slide in a bearing K, secured to the bracket G7, as is plainly shown in Figs. l and 2. The pin J is provided with aguidepin J 2, fitted to slide in the bearing K to prevent the said pin J from turning, and the lower end J 3 of this pin is beveled to ride on the peripheral face of a cam-wheel L, secured on a shaft N, mounted to turn in the bearing K and extending radially to the vertical axis of the needle-cylinder D. y

On the inner end of the shaft N is secured a ratchet-wheel O, and alongside of this ratchet-wheel is arranged a similar ratchetwheel O, having a corresponding number of teeth, but mounted to rotate loosely on the shaft N. It will be seen by reference to Figs. 7 and 8 that the larger ratchet-wheel O has every sixth tooth cut to a depth corresponding to the depth of the registering-tooth of the ratchet-wheel O, so that the pawl P is adapted to engage both ratchet-wheels O O at every sixth tooth of the ratchet-wheel O to turn the ratchet-wheel O with the ratchetwheel O. The spring-pressed pawl-P is fulcrumed on a lever P', fulcrumed loosely on the shaft N, and on said lever P is journaled an antifriction-roller P2, adapted to be engaged by the cam F once during every revolution of the needle-cylinder D to impart a swinging motion to the lever P in the direction of the arrow c, and thereby turn the ratchet-wheel O in the same direction, and at every sixth revolution to also turn the ratchet-wheel O and by the pawl then dropping into the deep tooth of the ratchet-wheel O to engage at the same time a tooth on the ratchet-wheel O. The lever P is pressed on by a spring P3, so as to hold the lever normally in the position shown in Fig. 8 for the cam-lever F to act on the antifriction roller P2 during every revolution of the needle-cylinder D. A setscrew P", carried by the lever P, limits the swinging movement of the lever P against the stop P5. (See Figs. 7 and 8.) By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the camwheel L has six teeth or risers, and, since the spaces between the teeth are twice the size of the faces of the teeth, consequently the pin J is lifted on one of the teeth after twelve revolutions of the needle-cylinder D, and the pin remains on top of a tooth during the next following six revolutions of the needle-cylinder D. By changing the cam-wheel L and the ratchetwheels O O relatively lto their number of teeth it is evident that the pin J may be actuated for any desired number of revolutions of the needle-cylinder D. As the pin J is moved upward it imparts an upward sliding motion to the pin I, so that the beveled end I thereof pressing against the pin H causes the bearing H to slide toward the needles, so as to bring the disk A into an active position, and this disk remains in this 'position during six revolutions of theY needle cylinder D. When the pin J drops to its former position by the action of the spring I4 pressing on the sleeve I2, resting on the head J of the pin, then the beveled end I of the pin I permits the carrier H to slide by its own weight downward in the guideway G t0 move the disk A` out of engagement with the needles and allow the disk B by its own weight to slide downward on the shaft B'- and again move into an active position and close alternate needles C during the next twelve revolutions of the cylinder D. The ratchet-wheels O O are en-l gaged by a spring-pressed dog O2 to prevent accidental return movementof the said ratchetwheels.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters PatentA l. A knitting-machine attachment having a plain-stitch disk, a tuck-stitch disk, a fixed shaft for one of said disks to turn on, a bearing for the other disk to turn in, an inclined guideway for said bearing to slide toward and from the needles, to bring said disks alter- IOO IIO

nately into active positions relatively to the knitting -machine needles, and means controlled by the knitting-machine, to move'said bearing on its guideway, as set forth.

2. A knitting-m achine attachment, comprising a plain-stitch disk, a tuck-stitch disk having a serrated periphery, an inclined guideway, a bearingmcunted to slide on said guideway, and having a hub with an enlarged bore in which the plain disk turns, a shaft secured to the guideway and provided with a collar upon which the serrated disk mounted loosely on the shaft is adapted to rest, and means for operating the said bearing from the knittingmaehine in one direction, as set forth.

3. A knitting-machine attachment, comprising a plain-stitch disk, a toothed tuck-disk, an inclined guideway, a bearingmounted to slide on the guideway and havingl an enlarged bore in which the plain disk is mounted, a shaft secured to the guideway and provided with a collar upon which the toothed disk loosely mounted on the said shaft, is adapted to rest, a sliding cam member for engagingthe bearing for sliding it on the guideway, and means for operating the said sliding cam member from the knitting-machine, as set forth.

4. A knitting-machine attachment, comprising a plain-stitch disk, a toothed tuck-disk, an inclined guideway, a sliding bearing on the guideway and having an enlarged bore in which the plain disk is mounted, a shaft secured to the guideway and provided with a collar upon which the toothed disk loosely mounted on the shaftis adapted to rest, a slid-` ing and spring-pressed pin for engaging the bearing for operating it, asliding and `headed pin upon which the lower end of the first pin rests, and a cam for operating the second pin, as set forth. Y

5. A knitting-machine attachment, comprising aplain-stitch disk, a toothed tuck-disk, a gnideway, a sliding bearing on the guideway and in which the plain disk is mounted, a fixedshaft for the toothed disk to turn on, a sliding and spring-pressed member engaging the bearing to operate it, a sliding pin upon which the sliding member rests, a carnfor operating the said pin, and a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for operating the said cam, as set forth. i

6. A knitting-mach ine attachment, comprising two needle-closers, one for closing all of the needles and the other for closing alternate needles, an inclined guideway, a sliding bearing on the guideway and in which one of the closers is mounted, a fixed shaft upon which the other closer is mounted to turn and slide, a shaft, means for operating the sliding bearing from the shaft, two ratchet-wheels of unequal size, on the shaft and having corresponding number of teeth, onewheel being loose and the other iixed,the larger wheel having sundry of its teeth eut the depth of the teeth of the smaller wheel, and a pawl operated from the knitting-machine and engaging the ratchet-wheels, as set forth.

7. A knitting-machine attachment, com prising a cam on a rotating part of the knittingmachine, a level' adapted to be actuated by the cam, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism controlled `by said lever, a shaft intermittently rotated by the pawl-and-ratehet mechanism, a camwheel on the said shaft, an inclined guideway,

a slidable member on said guideway, twonee-` i (lle-closers, one for closing all the needles and ing a cam on a rotating partof the knitting-` machine, a lever adapted to befactuated by said cam, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism controlled by said lever, a shaft intermittently rotated by said pawl-and-ratchet mechanism,

a cam-wheel on said shaft, a lifting device controlled by said camwheel, two needleclosers controlled by said lifting device, one for closing all the needles and the pther for closing alternate needles, a fixed shaft on which one needle-closer is mounted toiturn and to slide, and a movable bearing through which the fixed shaft passes and in which the other needle-closer is mounted to turn, the bearing being shifted by said lifting device,as set forth.

9. A knitting-machine attachment, comprising a cam on a rotating part of the knittingmachine, a lever adapted to be actuated by said cam, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism controlled by said lever and having' two ratchet-wheels of different diameters, one of the ratchet-wheels having sundry of its teeth cut to the depth of the teeth of the smaller ratchet-wheel, a shaft intermittently rotated by the rotation of the small diameter ratchet-wheel, a cam-wheel on said shaft, a lifting and sliding device controlled by said cam-wheel, two needle-closers controlled by said lifting device, one for closing allthe needles and the other for closing alternate needles, a sliding bearing in which one needle-closer is mounted to turn, and a {ixed shaft extending through the bearing and hub of the closer mounted in the said bearing and upon which the other needle-closer is mounted to turn and slide, as set forth.

10, A knitting-machine` attachment, comprising a cam on a rotating part of the knittingmachine, a lever adapted to be actuated by said cam, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism controlled i by said lever and havingfast and loose ratchetwheels of different diameters, the large ratchetwheel having sundry of its teeth cut to the depth of the teeth of the small ratchet-wheel, a shaft intermittently rotated by the small ratchet-wheel, a cam-wheel on said shaft, a

IOO

IIO

lifting device controlled by said cam-wheel, a bearing mounted to slide in inclined guideways and controlled by said lifting device, a plain-stitch disk mounted to turn in said bearing, and a tuck-stitch disk over said plain-stitch disk and adapted to be moved by the latter, said tuck-stitch disk being mounted to turn and to slide on a fixed shaft, as set forth.

11. A knitting-machine attachment, comprising a pawl -and -ratchet mechanism controlled by a cam on a rotating part of the machine, a shaft intermittently rotated by said pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, a cam on said shaft, two needle-closers, one for closing all the needles and the other for closing alternate needles, a fixed shaft on which one of the needle-closers is mounted to turn and slide, a sliding bearing through which the fixed shaft passes and in which the other needle-closer is mounted, and mechanism for operating the sliding bearing from the said cam, as set forth.

12. A knitting-machine attachment, comprising a lever adapted to be operated by a cam on a rotating part of the machine, a pawland-ratchet mechanism controlledbyT said lever, a shaft intermittently rotated by the pawland-ratchet mechanism, a cam on said shaft, two needle-closers, one for closing all the needles, and the other for closing alternate needles, a fixed shaft on which one of the needleclosers is mounted to turnA and slide, a sliding bearing in which the other needle-closer is mounted, a sliding and spring-pressed member for engaging the bearing to slide it, and a headed and sliding pin operated by the cam and upon which the said sliding member rests, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL ARTHUR DODGE.

Vitnesses: v

WM. H. ALLEN, C. W. -MALLALIEU 

